|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 2:40 am
The promise of wonder and spectacle and, most importantly, the birth of a new sky had drawn Neva to the revels of the Pantheon. She was a rare visitor to this place, and, although she had been there since it had been reshaped by Creation's hand, she had never seen it so full of life and energy. More than once she had endured the gawking stares of mortals eager to commune with divinity, but she managed to dissuade their approach with a chill that permeated the air around her. Her personal bubble established, she had delighted in cutting a swath among the celebrants as she ventured through the Pantheon. After ensuring that her gift to the Emblem had delivered itself, she had turned toward the reclining dragon with the aim of inquiring as to how he found his new toy, but was distracted by Creation's call.
Neva turned instinctively toward the quietly sonorous voice, following, like mortal and immortal alike, Creation and his Kings outside. The visible release of Creation's power was breathtaking in its glory, but more than that, it was a reminder of why they were all gathered at the Pantheon in the first place. As the lights gathered around Creation glowed like fireflies, Neva watched with rapt anticipation.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:25 am
Near the edge of the crowd, Dances with Humans stood, a half smile hovering about his face as he watched the goings on and listened to the words of Creation. Strange, he mused silently, how an unexpected exile could manage to open his mind. Not so long ago, he would have willingly thrown into into battle with most of the beings now milling and watching the show. But that was a lifetime away. He was here now and enjoying every moment. These gods knew how to party. And whatever it was that Creation was doing right now had the potential to turn into the Greatest Party Ever.
Skin prickling as light and life burst from Creation, Dances instinctively shifted to his battle form. Ignoring those around him, he threw back his shaggy head and howled. Though whether his howl was born out of joy or fear, even he didn't know. He was caught in a moment and howling just felt right.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 10:01 am
Xun Jiang didn't even have the shadow of an idea of how intimidating he was, at the moment. Perhaps it would hit him later, but for now, he had a task to be done.
Perhaps thankfully for Aris, that gaze wandered off him to seek out what he'd asked. That was right, silly dragon. The red-haired mortal needed to stay within here, as with all the others. The raw mana would certainly be too much for them to bear. Before he could even speak, the vessels came to him - he followed the servants back to their master with his gaze and nodded his thanks.
"Claws or spines, through I think the latter might do less damage overall." No use making the healing worse, really, through he couldn't quite tend to him like this, could he ?
"Lindita ?"
When she was called, the aoide came, as if she could have been able to hear his master call over all the action that was happening right now, all of the sounds.
"Yes, my lord ?"
"Please do tend to the consort in my stead ?" He nodded toward Aris. "I fear I would do more damage than good at this point."
Then he waited, for the redhead to be ready. It was likely a lot to take for him now, he finally noticed.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:04 am
Aris looked doubtfully at the spines. Spines inflicted piercing damage, which healed more slowly than a cut. Admittedly, if he just drug his arm along one it would tear open the skin, not cut it. He was pretty certain a tear healed faster than a cut, since the uneven surface sealed quicker and was less prone to splitting apart again if the limb was moved. A tear would just look more gruesome and be harder to control the depth and breadth.
The disappearing being that had brought the first phial was no help at all.
He scowled at himself, stealing a brief glance at Creation before turning back to the dragon and it's pointy bits.
Hesitation is weakness. It is failure.
He set the outer edge of his arm against the point of a spine and pushed while dragging down, opening the length of his Flexor Carpi Ulnaris down to his wrist. It didn't take long for blood to well and sheet his palm, making the task of getting it to drip from fingers into the phial a chore.
His mouth was full of saltwater and he felt like he wanted to vomit. It wasn't an option in front of all these gods, though. He was supposed to be some sort of amazing worthy mortal, and he was certain that something as 'simple' as this operation wasn't epic enough to make anything outside of stoicism excusable. "I hope someone has some bandages handy. Or a needle and thread."
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:34 am
Zhijian felt odd, simply sitting by and watching the work that went on. One brother shielded the mortals, one brought forth coins to drop into the new stars, and the other summoned a spring and...bled the Consort. That did not look pleasant. His large ears caught Aris' statement, pricking forward. He did not have bandages, nor could he sew wounds, but...
He surveyed the crowd, looking for the pards. They would be here, or most of them would. Ah, there! The collection of familiar, often bright colors and patterns. No sooner had he looked than Ashoka anticipated his want - or saw his intention, as it were - and the shifted prophet came forward with the fae-pard healer, Satu.
The giant cat, with swirling gold patterns in her brown fur, studied the Consort and nodded. Ashoka supplied, "She can heal it, when you're ready."
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:50 am
Nashwa was pleasantly surprised when Two asked what was going on. Such progress! The katta smiled her approval and explained, "They are making a new sky, and those will be the stars. Those dragons you see, they are the Dragon Kings. I have not met one, myself, but as you can see, they are very important. And powerful."
____________
Xun Jiang was right; there was no way Adi could not have been here. And it was difficult to see the dragon who looked so like her dear friend, but it was better once he shifted into his dragon form. It wasn't so weird, and she was glad he did it, even if it had nothing to do with her. There was also plenty of distraction, fascinating and marvelous things happening and about to happen. Initially, she wasn't quite sure where to stand to watch, but settled on being amongst the mortals.
And then someone howled. Adi's head jerked up, to search out the source of the sound, and her jaw dropped when she saw it. A werewolf. There was a real werewolf here. She sidled surreptitiously through the crowd to get a closer look.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 11:54 am
Had it been in Xun Jiang's nature to try to inflict damage, he might actually have known all of that - but it wasn't, really. Not unless it was truly needed.
Thankfully, it seemed his cluelessness wouldn't have too much lasting consequences, as a healer came forward. He recognized Ashoka as a servant of his brother, at least, and nodded toward her. "Thank you."
Lindita was more equipped to do the actual gathering, so she did, carefully making sure not to let any blood drop toward the ground. No use having him bleed for nothing, after all. Mortals could be rather... fragile.
One drop for each vessel, mixed with a drop of water of the wellspring. Life and death, the endless circle.
"That should be enough." He finally said, nodding toward Aris and Satu. "Thank you." Addressed to Aris, this time, He wanted to smile but didn't, having finally picked up on the mortal's discomfort, and he wasn't sure a draconic, toothy grin would make the matters any better.
Leaving the mortal in the care of Lindita and of his brother's servant, he handled the vessels carefully and returned to his wellspring. Just a little more work to do, but at least the... queasy part was over. Neither him or the mortal had been a fan, really.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:33 pm
Now he was left with a gold-haired, hooved, tailed...obviously woman, and some fuzzy catwing bipedal things. He thought that the white, cow-spotted and horned one was female from the sound of it.
The brownish, butter-winged one (how did it even pretend to fly on those flimsy things?) was some sort of healer. Was it going to lick the wound closed? He wasn't sure he was comfortable with scratchy cat tongue. As it was, he gripped his forearm hard enough to white his knuckles the same shade his face was draining to.
"How does it work?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:56 pm
Satu more or less ignored the dragon, not that she could have spoken to him if she wanted to (hence Ashoka, capable of humanoid form and human tongues). She looked on Aris with what might have been sympathy; gods were necessary, yes, but they were trouble.
"It just does," Ashoka answered rather unhelpfully, leaning a little on the pony-sized cat beside her. "It's magic."
Fortunately for the man, there was no licking involved. Shrugging away her companion's hand on her shoulder, the fae placed one large paw over his foot for the aid of physical contact, and stared unblinking at the wound. She stopped the bleeding first, then started to focus on knitting the tissues back together. It would take some twenty minutes, if she had that much time, but if not, he would at least not be bleeding out.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 3:52 pm
Still in awe of the dragons, Priscilla watched closely to what was done. She could not see everything, but what she did see was amazing to her.
"Daddy and mommy would have liked this," she mumbled softly to herself. Biting back tears, she decided she was not going to cry this day. There was too much to be thankful for. She had her doll and a new pet that man had given her for the money. But most of all she had Arc and Taj and even Lisana had been nice to her for no reason.
It was then she spotted Numbers and moved closer to where he stood. When she finally managed to work her way through the people, she stood next to him. Reaching over, she took his hand before she began to watch the dragons again. They were much bigger this time than she had thought before and even though she was small, she could still see them clear enough. She wondered how big they would be if she were standing right next to them. Maybe later she would find out.
Lisana noted that Priscilla had moved away. She glanced over at Arlecchino to follow with the harpy boy. Zephyros had finally stopped squirming and was watching the glowing things with interest. He acted as if he wanted to be flying up there with them, but finally just settled on watching them closely.
"Let's go join Arc and Priscilla closer. I want to see more of what is happening there."
Stopping beside Priscilla, the goddess watched Arc for a moment. He was enjoying things and not far away she spotted Maddie and Taj as well as Saljin and Kayan. It seemed everyone had indeed come out to watch Harmodius give them back a sky and to see the dragons. The power here was incredible and she was quite certain that this was the most blessed place in the universe right now. People were full of hope once more and joy filled their hearts. What more was needed?
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 3:54 pm
He leveled a look at Ashoka that seethed annoyance and strain. He would remain polite, and not say anything at all. They were helping. 'It just does. It's magic.' I live in God-god's own quarters, eat and drink with him every blasted day, and you want to explain to me that something just works because it is magic? Really? He tells me once I commanded all the elements with words of power, a sorcerer and warrior king. I, who understood many of the secrets of the life-mana of what Is. But this magic, among all magics....it just works.
The answer as to whether she was an a** or not was plain. Cow-spot is not entirely driving the bus.
Aris held still. While the brown beast may be a healer and sport ridiculous wings, it still had the body of a hunting cat. And it was standing on his foot.
"You have my thanks for this. I am not proven to any, yet you offer this expenditure. "
Maybe it's sentient. Maybe it just keeps her around as a translator.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:04 pm
Two simply nodded in reply, though her understanding of what was going on was slim to none. They were gods, she reasoned to herself, so they were doing god things. The question seemed to have taken a lot of will to deliver, and for now, the elf did not speak, just watched the proceedings with interested, taking note of the great dragons and the jobs they were to perform, and the man who had been let for his blood. One hand moved subconsciously to cover her wrist, hoping that she would not have to do the same, though if they asked, she knew she would not be able to refuse.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:10 pm
Arc wasn't as startled to find a small hand sliding into his as he would have been before. Now, he had grown used to the sensation, and knew immediately who it was. He glanced down at the girl-child with a smile and a squeeze of his heart. How she reminded him of what Rairne must have been like! It warmed him to know that Rairne was able to witness this event, through him, in an odd, backwards sort of way.
He returned his attention to the events unfolding. Though thus far he had gone unneeded and of little help, he stood ready, should the need arise. He, with all others present, watched and waited, the very air thrumming with power and anticipation. He gave Pris' hand a reassuring squeeze, glad the child was between himself and Lisana. It wasn't that he expected anything to go awry, but it just felt right to keep her protected, to flank her in this momentous occasion.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 6:27 pm
The press of mortals around Neva grew as they jockeyed for position, all of them eager to be closer to to divinity and the veritable miracle they were awaiting. The chill around her was no longer sufficient to keep them away, and she pushed her way through them before they could close around her. For the most part, they seemed content enough to be shoved around, but did not part for her as they had only hours ago. The temperature around her decreased in direct proportion with her dwindling patience until the grass beneath her feet crackled with frost. The way before her was treacherous with the limbs of countless people, and she stumbled through them and into a tall, horned figure wreathed with living foliage.
"Apologies, kinsman," Neva said as she righted herself, offering this stranger a courtesy she wouldn't have bothered with if not for the divine connection she sensed they shared. "The mortals here are thick as flies on honey, and twice as mindless."
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:07 pm
Ashoka saw the look, but was entirely unphased by it. Whatever the specific reason for it, she'd seen it and all its variations before. She really didn't have an explanation for the healer's magic aside, or even her own - how and why things happened and worked didn't concern her. They just did.
"She can't hear you now, but she'd say you're welcome."
The pardess' gaze and attention quickly drifted, glancing at and absorbing all the surrounding goings-on while glossing over flitting scenes that weren't really there, all the people and their possiblities. She watched Harmodius and the dragons instead, even wiggling her fingers in a little wave at the Five-Clawed, though there was a good chance he wouldn't see it. And then, since this was going to take awhile, she sat down on the ground and made herself comfortable.
Not entirely driving the bus, indeed.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|